Shen Lingwei stood up and instructed An’an not to run around before quickly heading to the kitchen.
To take care of Pei Ke’s diet, this kitchen had been specially set up for Jinghe Garden alone. The facilities and variety of ingredients were quite complete.
Inside the kitchen, three old women were chatting idly. The one in charge had triangular eyes, was in her forties, and wore a silver tag at her waist—clearly the head cook.
When Shen Lingwei arrived, the air fell silent for a moment.
“So you’re the newcomer? I heard you used to run a street stall selling snacks?” one thin-faced woman said with a sour tone.
Another round-faced woman chimed in, “The Second Young Master’s meals aren’t something to be taken lightly. And now even a street vendor can enter the kitchen? We’ve worked here for three years, yet we’re not as good as someone from outside.”
“Well, someone just got lucky and happened to suit the Second Young Master’s taste. And now she really thinks she’s a proper cook. Young people only learn their limits after hitting a wall.”
The two of them spoke in turns, their words full of ridicule.
Shen Lingwei said nothing and walked toward the stove.
Chen Shitou scolded from the side, “That’s enough. The Second Young Master is awake and wants to eat. The Old Madam said whoever can get him to eat even a few bites will be rewarded!”
The women immediately perked up. “Yes, we’ll start right away!”
The kitchen instantly became busy.
Shen Lingwei moved toward one of the stoves, but an old woman forcefully shoved her aside and took the spot.
She said nothing and turned to another stove, only for another woman to place a pot on it before she could.
The three women had taken the largest stoves, chopping vegetables with sneers on their faces.
They were clearly joining forces to give her a hard time.
Chen Shitou frowned. “Madam Shen, I’ll go inform Madam Zhang…”
“No need,” Shen Lingwei interrupted. “Go ahead and do your work. I can handle this.”
If she wanted to establish herself in the Marquis’ residence, she would have to deal with situations like this sooner or later.
Chen Shitou hesitated, but upon meeting her gaze, swallowed his words.
“Alright, I’ll be in the Second Young Master’s room. If anything happens, have a maid come find me.”
The women looked even more disdainful and threw in a few more mocking remarks.
Shen Lingwei didn’t argue with them. Instead of going back to the stoves, she walked to a corner, found a clean cloth, wiped down a stove, then took an empty bucket and fetched water from the jar. Her movements were efficient and composed.
The women glanced at her and sneered inwardly.
With a cold stove and slow fire, by the time she finished, the Second Young Master would have long been starving.
But Shen Lingwei didn’t even set up a pot. Instead, she took out a small clay jar from the cloth bundle she carried. It was something she used to keep food warm at her stall. She had already placed soaked rice and mashed Chinese yam inside, wrapped it in thick cotton cloth, and now tucked it directly into the residual heat chamber of the head cook’s stove.
The head cook, Liu, was busy making pastries and didn’t notice.
After that, Shen Lingwei took some poria powder, mixed it with warm water, placed it on her cold stove, and slowly steamed poria cakes using the residual heat from Liu’s stove.
Half an hour later, a maid came to collect the dishes.
Cook Liu had prepared a bowl of pigeon and yam soup. The broth was clear, the pigeon meat finely shredded, and a few goji berries floated on top—it looked excellent.
“Sister Liu’s skills are truly unmatched,” the thin-faced woman praised. “The Second Young Master will definitely love this soup.”
“Exactly. Last time he drank a small bowl—maybe this time he’ll finish a whole one,” another added.
Cook Liu wiped her hands, lifted her chin slightly, and glanced at Shen Lingwei.
Shen Lingwei had already taken out her clay jar. As she removed the cloth, a fragrance of rice mixed with the light sweetness of yam spread through the air.
The women were all stunned.
When had she made that?
“Isn’t that the head cook’s stove chamber?”
Shen Lingwei ignored their dark expressions. Calmly, she took down a tray of poria cakes from her cold stove and placed them into the maid Xiao Cui’s tray.
“This porridge is a bit hot. Let it cool before serving it to the Second Young Master.”
Xiao Cui nodded and took the food box. After only a couple of steps, she suddenly stopped and bent over, clutching her stomach.
“Ow—my stomach!”
“What’s wrong?” Cook Liu hurried over.
Cold sweat formed on Xiao Cui’s forehead. “I… I suddenly have a stomachache. I need to go to the latrine.”
The others turned pale.
The Second Young Master disliked cold food. If this was delayed and he refused to eat, how would they face the Old Madam’s blame?
At that moment, the thin-faced woman glanced at Shen Lingwei, a calculating look flashing in her eyes.
“Oh dear, what should we do? We can’t let the Second Young Master go hungry.”
She turned to Shen Lingwei. “Madam Shen, it’s just a few steps away. Why don’t you personally deliver it today?”
The other woman rolled her eyes and agreed, “Yes, delivering it yourself shows sincerity. If the Second Young Master likes it, the Old Madam will surely reward you.”
Shen Lingwei sneered inwardly.
Madam Zhang had already warned her—the Second Young Master disliked strangers the most. These women were clearly pushing her into trouble.
But if she refused now, and blame came from above, the three of them would surely turn the tables on her.
The outcome would be obvious.
So even knowing it was a trap, she had no choice but to go.
Shen Lingwei nodded calmly and took the food box from Xiao Cui. “It’s fine. I’ll deliver it.”
A trace of satisfaction flashed across Cook Liu and the others’ eyes, though they still pretended to offer a few reminders.
Jinghe Garden was located in the northeast corner of the Marquis’ residence, quiet and secluded. The courtyard walls were built of solid blue bricks, taller than usual, and the windows were high and narrow.
Though it was part of the Marquis’ residence, it carried a sense of isolation from the world.
Just as Shen Lingwei reached the entrance, she heard a loud crash from inside—like porcelain shattering.
“This is bad! The Second Young Master has lost control again!”
Several maids in green ran out in panic, clutching their heads. Shen Lingwei was nearly knocked over, the food box in her hands almost falling.
The courtyard gate was half-open. The maids stood far under the corridor, pale-faced, none daring to approach.
The sound of smashing continued inside.
“Quick… go invite the Old Madam—and Master Hu as well!” one maid cried.
Shen Lingwei set down the food box and stepped forward.
Through the crack in the door, she saw a small figure—about five or six years old, thin as a skeleton. His brocade robe hung loosely on him. He was curled up in the corner, hands tightly covering his ears, his whole body trembling violently, emitting low, beast-like growls.
In front of him, shards of porcelain littered the floor. A maid sat collapsed outside the door, a cut bleeding on the back of her hand, trembling in fear.
Soon, another figure rushed out—it was Chen Shitou. A large swelling had formed on his forehead, blood seeping out.
Seeing Shen Lingwei, his face changed. “Madam Shen!? Why are you here? Leave quickly! The Second Young Master doesn’t recognize anyone right now—you might get hurt!”
Shen Lingwei didn’t move.
She looked at the small figure inside, her chest tightening.
He wasn’t “going mad.”
He was crying for help.
“Wasn’t he fine just now? How did this suddenly happen?”
Chen Shitou wiped the blood from his forehead anxiously. “I don’t know. He was fine while getting dressed, but right after changing clothes, he suddenly became like this.”
Shen Lingwei stared inside. Pei Ke was still lashing out, smashing things like an uncontrollable young beast.
He was about to break!
Once he collapsed, he would completely shut himself off. At that point, no one would ever be able to reach his heart.
Her gaze quickly swept the surroundings, soon landing on an abandoned stone mill.
“Quick! Move that over and set it up!”
Chen Shitou followed her gaze—and his expression changed drastically.